Caroline carried on walking, her pace slower than before. She was trying to process what Elizabeth had just told her.

"So erm, so Benjamin and Samuel, Ben and Sam, the twins. Who's are erm they are ….."

"Adopted. When they were just 3 months old. I feel so stupid now Caroline. I thought you knew about me, about Dan. It must have been Kate that I told."

Elizabeth looked mortified and she stood facing Caroline with her hands stuffed deep in her pockets and her shoulders raised and tense.

"No, no, it's fine." Caroline held her hands up cocked her head to one side.

"I mean, who I am to judge anyone. After all, I am, well you know. Anyway. No. It doesn't matter one bit to me."

"Good because I would hate to think that this would change anything between you and me and Kate. Over the last month, I have come to really like you and Kate. I respect you. It would be nice to think that we might even keep in touch after Kate is released and be friends, you know the four of us and the kids."

Caroline slowly looked over at Elizabeth.

"Is that allowed? I mean doesn't it contravene any professional standards or anything? Not that I wouldn't want to keep in touch. I am so very grateful for everything you have done for Kate, for us as a family. It would be nice to meet up when all this is over, you know under normal circumstances, and for us to treat you all to a nice meal or something."

Elizabeth laughed.

"Of course it would be OK. Kate will no longer be one of my patients. Anyway, it's not like we will be having sex or anything is it."

She stopped and saw the look on Caroline's face.

"Oh my God. I am sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out like that. I can tell that you are not comfortable with this and that it has all been a shock to you. Listen, I am going to leave you here. I am off for the next 2 days but I will no doubt see you when I am back on shift on Monday. Take care and don't overdo it. Give my love to Kate."

Without another word, Elizabeth walked off down the corridor and Caroline stood watching her go. How could she not have known?


Caroline pulled up into the driveway and switched off the engine. She looked over at the house, at all the lights that were on and suddenly remembered that she had left Flora with Lawrence. It was only when she got out and started climbing the few steps to the front door that she noticed John's car and her heart skipped several beats. Perhaps something was wrong and Lawrence had called him. She was flustered by the time she had found her key and opened the front door.

"Lawrence. I'm home. Lawrence."

She knew her voice sounded frantic and she took several quick deep breaths before opening the living room door.

"Hi ma."

Lawrence was sat on the sofa with Flora fast asleep in his arms. John was quietly snoring in the arm chair. The room was a bit of a mess with a half-finished game of Monopoly on the table, a pizza box on the floor and a couple of empty glasses on the side table. But that was the least of her worries.

"Ssshh, I've just got them both to sleep."

Caroline smiled and she kissed the top of his head and then bend down and looked at Flora.

"Have they, has she been OK? She hasn't been any trouble has she? Is she fed and winded and changed and clean?"

"Calm down ma. Everything is just fine. She woke up about an hour ago and dad said she might be hungry so I fed her. And then she did this most almighty poo that sent everywhere so I changed her and then we sat at watched a film and then she fell asleep."

"I hope you haven't been letting her watch anything too violent. I don't want her growing up liking violent and scary films. And what's your father doing here? Where's granny and Alan?"

She stood back and smiled at him, feeling immensely proud.

"Dad and Judith had a row. On the phone. Apparently, she wants to stay with her sister for a bit longer and she wants him to pay the rent and some other bill. And dad said he didn't see why he had to because it was her flat. And granny and Alan have gone over to Halifax. Something about Gillian and Robbie and I think there might have been a sheep involved."

Caroline picked up Flora and gently rocked her.

"Well, I'm here now. You'd better clear away this mess and then wake your father up. I am not having him sleeping in my spare room when he has a perfectly good bed in his own flat. Well, it isn't his own flat technically and I am not even sure it is a good bed. But he isn't sleeping here."

And without giving Lawrence the chance to reply, she went to put Flora to bed.

Caroline hadn't yet moved Flora into the nursery. In truth, she had got used to her sleeping at the side of her. And she wanted Kate to have that experience when she came home from hospital. In truth, she liked having the baby in the same room - it was like having Kate next to her. And it wasn't doing her any harm.

She gently lay her in her crib and covered her with a blanket. Kissing her fingertips, she touched them on Flora's head.

"Night night little one."

As she was half way down the stairs, Lawrence popped his head round the living room door.

"I think we have a problem. Dad seems a bit too drunk to go home. I don't think he can drive. He could stay here couldn't he? In the spare room?"

Caroline closed her eyes slowly and inhaled very deeply. Calmly, she walked down the last few steps, went into the hallway and picked up the house phone from the table. She punched in a number and rolled her eyes at Lawrence, her free hand on her hip, her eyes seemingly scanning the ceiling.

"Can I order a taxi please. As soon as possible. It's for John Elliott. 46 Conway Drive, Harrogate. Postcode? It's HG3 2MC. 5 minutes? That's perfect. Thank you. Bye."

Picking up John's coat from the rack, she walked into the living room and threw it in his general direction.

"Here, get your coat on and get outside in the fresh air. The taxi will be here in 5 minutes. You can collect your car in the morning when you are sober."

"Caroline, this is my bloody ho ….. oh, wait. No it isn't anymore is it? Oh, gosh. I, err, I don't suppose I could be a house guest just for one evening can I?"

"You suppose right John because the answer is no. You gave up your rights to live here when you went off with that, with that, with Judith. I do not want you coming here and getting drunk in front of my children. I do not want you coming here full stop. Lawrence is old enough to meet you in town or somewhere. If you have a problem with Judith, that is exactly what it is. Your problem. It is nothing to do with us so please do not try to involve us. Now put on your coat and leave. The taxi will be here in …." She looked at her watch. "…. In less than 3 minutes."

"These things are never on bloody time anyway."

"I do not care John. Go. Leave. Get out."

Caroline stood to one side to allow John to pass. She majestically waved her arm to signal that she wanted him to leave.

"You haven't changed have you? You are just so stuck up and pompous and, well, so bloody you. We had some good times though didn't we Caroline? You and me? And the boys?"

"Yes, we had some good times. But they are all in the past now. Memories. And I have changed John and you need to accept it. I have changed. It took me a while but I am happier now than I have ever been. I am who I am, living my live as I want to."

"What? As a bloody lesbian? You talk about me acting inappropriately in front of the children? What about you Caroline?"

"You need to leave now John. I have said all I want to say. The children are perfectly happy with me, with Kate. Good night. Watch the steps. I do not want a repeat performance of the one your girlfriend gave me when she was too drunk to handle the steps."

"Piss off Caroline."

She closed the door and double locked it, leaning against it and sighing. Some things in her life never changed.


Something woke Caroline from her deep sleep. She groaned and looked at the clock. 07:20. Then she sat bolt upright. Her phone was ringing.

"Hello. Hello."

"Morning love. It's me."

"Mum. Is everything alright? How is Alan?"

"Oh, he's fine love. He's just gone downstairs to make me a cup of tea. I thought I would ring to see how you were."

Caroline lay her head back on the pillow and slowly closed her eyes.

"It's twenty past seven in the morning. I thought that something had happened to Alan, to you, to Kate."

"No you daft beggar." Celia laughed. "I just wanted to hear your lovely voice and to update you on the situation here at Halifax and let you know why me and Alan dashed over here last night."

"This had better be good mum because my heart is still banging in my chest. I thought …."

"Yes I know what you thought. Well now you know different. Anyway, back to Halifax. Gillian had a ewe in lamb and there were complications. So her and Robbie had to take it to somewhere to get it sorted you see. And Raff and Ellie were out with Harry so that meant that there was no one at the farm to look after Calamity."

Caroline was dumbfounded.

"So you and Alan dropped everything. Gillian let Alan drive all the way over to Halifax to sit with the baby because some sheep was having a few problems pushing and she had to be taken to some vet or something. Mum, that woman is unbelievable. Does she not know that you both struggle in the dark with your eyes? What a selfish …."

"Well no harm was done. Anyway, while me and Alan are here we are going to stay for a few days. I don't suppose you have any objections do you?"

Caroline ran her free hand through her hair and stared up at the ceiling.

"Actually mum, actually yes I do. What if I had had plans today? You know that Kate is still in hospital don't you? And you know that I only have this week free before I am back at work? What am I supposed to do with the baby?"

"I'm sorry love but that isn't my problem. I did say that me and Alan would help out when we could and so far we have. Only for the next few days we can't. So you need to make other arrangements. Anyway, I have to go now because my tea is getting cold. Bye love. Bye bye."

"Mum! Mum, you can't …. Oh, great. Thanks a lot mum."

Her raised voice had awoken Flora and she started getting grizzly. Caroline reached into the crib and picked her up.

"That was granny. Yes it was. She is over at the farm with those sheep so it's just you and me today. God knows how we are going to manage but we will have to somehow. Come on. Let's see if that brother of yours is up and getting ready for school. And then we can get you some breakfast and me some breakfast and then we can go and see your other mummy and see whether she has had a better start to the day.


As it happened, Kate had had a better start to the day. When Caroline arrived, Kate was on the corridor with her physiotherapist. She was taking tentative steps with a walking frame, grimacing as she bore weight on her injured leg. Her face lit up when she saw Caroline walking towards her.

"Look at you! I'm so proud of you. No, don't let me stop you. I'll wait in the room with the baby."

"Actually Caroline, you might want to watch what I am doing with Kate."

The physiotherapist turned to face her and steadied the frame with his right hand.

"Kate is making great progress but she is starting to drag her left leg. Not much but she isn't lifting it as high as her other leg and bending it at the knee. This may cause her to have a bit of a limp it we don't correct it now. I need you to get onto her when you get home. Continue to give the positive messages that I am giving her. Get her to walk towards a mirror so that she can see what she looks like. Help her, support her. Be there for her."

"Of course I will. Always. I will always be there for her. I want her to get better, stronger. I want to get her home where she belongs. When will that be? Have you any idea?"

Caroline looked imploringly at Steven.

"I am afraid it isn't my call Caroline. All I can do is write in Kate's notes about how much progress she is making. And to date, it is amazing. After that, it is for Doctor Malik to make the call as to when she can be allowed home. I know that her scans are very positive and her brain is almost down to its normal size. The swelling has subsided at a pleasing pace. And her caesarean wound is all but healed now. The only thing stopping her from coming home is her mobility. We need to be confident that she can cope on her own when she goes home."

Kate gave a small cough.

"I am here you know. I might not be fully fit physically but I can hear you. I can understand what you are saying and I am old enough to be able to answer for myself."

Caroline put her arm around Kate's shoulders.

"I'm sorry my love. I didn't mean to talk over your head. Of course you should be a part of this conversation."

She kissed her tenderly on the temple.

"What are your thoughts about this? What do you want Kate?"

"Do you really need to ask? I want to come home to you and Flora. Even Lawrence. I will do anything I need to in order for Dr Malik to discharge me."

"Anything?"

Caroline raised her eyebrows and smirked at Kate.

"Well, almost anything. Come on, walk with me to the nurses station and back again."